In a time overwhelmed by challenges—both globally and locally— entrepreneurs and industrialists are finding it increasingly difficult to identify efficient ways to increase the well-known top line of their business, i.e., revenue.
However, rather than focusing on complaints about difficult business conditions, uncertainty, and an increasingly unfavorable environment compared to previous years, some have decided that now is the right time to focus on the consumption their business generates.
Through a simple analysis of input costs—an unavoidable part of any production process—they come to a key conclusion: it is almost impossible to maintain profit margins and profitability without seriously reducing fundamental expenses, among which electricity consumption stands out.
In an era when the offer of renewable energy sources—especially solar solutions—is richer than ever, choosing the optimal system may not be simple. However, one thing is certain: business sustainability in turbulent times no longer lies in increasing revenue but in smart cost reduction.
Such an approach—focusing on savings through energy efficiency— was put into practice by the company Podrinje Komerc. After nearly a year of detailed analysis, calculations, and budgeting for an investment in their solar power plant, director and owner Ljubiša Žikić decided last fall that it was time to save—smartly.
Podrinje Komerc is a family-owned business with nearly two decades of experience in the production and processing of reinforcement steel. In its production process, the company consumed around 60 MWh of electricity per month, amounting to a cost of approximately 1.1 million dinars.
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The company Pirke Solar, based in Belgrade, proposed a solution involving the installation of one megawatt of solar panels on the roof of the production hall, which will be implemented in three phases. The first phase alone, in line with the project plan, already yielded significant results: electricity consumption at the first facility was reduced by around 60 percent.
Even better results are expected during the summer months, when the days are longest and solar radiation is strongest—a saving of almost 80 percent is forecast, making this investment sustainable and highly profitable.
“Can it really be possible that a solar power plant can save me up to 80 percent on my electricity bill?” wondered Ljubiša Žikić, while studying the SolarEdge application and the experiences of other entrepreneurs across Serbia who had already entered the world of solar energy. It turned out that equipment quality makes a serious difference, regardless of roof type or orientation.
SolarEdge, one of the world’s leading brands in the production of inverters and related equipment for solar power plants, collaborated with Pirke Solar to develop a custom solution for the entire Podrinje Komerc project. The goal was clear: establishing a new benchmark for the efficiency and profitability of solar power plants in Serbia’s industrial sector.
In the first phase, 412 kW of capacity was installed along with 356 optimizers, which are a trademark of SolarEdge technology. The result came quickly: in March of this year, the power plant reached a record production of 33.2 MWh, accounting for almost a third of the factory’s total monthly consumption.
“I can’t wait for summer,” Žikić said with a smile, while already planning the implementation of the second and third phases of the solar power plant on the roof of his facility. The goal is to achieve additional savings and position the company as one of the energy leaders in the industrial sector of Western Serbia.
Prepared by Milena Maglovski
Read the story in the new issue of the Energy portal Magazine SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
